Michael Menzinger

This group studies, by theory and experiment, mechanisms by which nonlinear reactive flows self-organize. The insights are applied to real-world processes. A second field of study deals with the dynamics of networks. 

(1) Our group has done seminal work on pattern formation in open reactive flows (ORFs) . We discovered the differential flow instability (DIFI) and showed how it governs the dynamic response of packed bed reactors (PBR). Further we explore the flow-distributed oscillation mechanism (FDO) of pattern formation in flows of oscillating media that are forced at the inflow. We showed that FDO plays a key role in the transverse segmentation of embryos. Recent work has brought to light unexplored aspects of DIFI and of FDO. One project is to take the biological segmentation work beyond its proof-of-principle and show by reverse engineering how delicately modulated body plans (unequal body segments and limb structures) can be formed. 

Given their key role in PBR dynamics and in biological development, we continue exploring fundamental aspects of ORFs, such as wave instability, mode selection and bistability. Experiments, in collaboration with the University of Santiago de Compostela , serve to validate theoretical predictions and to advance the discovery of new phenomena. 

(2) The relation between structure and function of complex networks is important in many fields of biology, technology and society. 

Understanding the roles that node dynamics and inter-node coupling play in the collective dynamics is still in an early stage. Among others, we are interested in the effect of community structure on the synchronizability of oscillator networks.